I am pleased to share the news that the UCSF schools of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy received top rankings nationally in this year’s U.S. News & World Report survey of best graduate schools, with all ranked in the top three schools in the nation—positions they have held for many years. Graduate schools of dentistry are not ranked by the magazine.

It is a testament to the vision and dedication of our faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as the leadership of our Deans, that our schools continue to lead in their fields. The aim of each is to foster an environment that cultivates the next generation of compassionate, highly trained health care providers and researchers to advance patient care and discovery.

I recently wrote with an important update regarding University policies and procedures pertaining to sexual violence and sexual harassment. As part of the University’s efforts to improve its prevention and response to sexual violence and sexual harassment, we are rolling out a comprehensive sexual violence and sexual harassment prevention training program for all UC faculty and staff. Each member of the University community has a responsibility to make our campuses free from sexual violence and sexual harassment. This training program will better prepare all of us to fulfill this obligation and learn about our role in these efforts.

To this end, starting immediately, all employees on payroll with active status as well as UCSF affiliates, regardless of previous training taken, will be required to complete training on sexual violence and sexual harassment prevention and response. Faculty and supervisors—who have been required to take such training for several years—will see new, updated content in their training and will maintain their current training schedule. Non-supervisory staff will be required to take sexual harassment prevention training that must be completed by May 1, 2016 or within six weeks for any subsequent new hires. Ongoing training for all non-supervisory employees will be required annually.

This training will be video based and delivery will be online through our UC Learning Center. Overall the training should take approximately 50 minutes to complete for non-supervisory staff. Faculty and supervisors will continue to take a separate training course with additional legally-required content that will take two hours to complete. You will be...

I am writing to share important changes to UC Policy regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment and to offer a reminder about the resources available to faculty, staff, students, and trainees. There are many policy changes underway, but a few recent updates deserve specific mention.

The UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment now requires that every UCSF employee, excepting confidential resources, notify the Title IX Office (Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination) when they receive information that a student has suffered sexual violence, sexual harassment or other prohibited behavior. This requirement applies to Graduate Teaching Assistants, Fellows, and all other student employees when disclosures are made to them in their capacities as employees. This requirement is in addition to the continuing mandate requiring all supervisors, managers, and faculty to notify the Title IX Office when they receive information of alleged prohibited conduct under the Policy.